Method and apparatus for stuffing newspapers or forming similar sheet material assemblages

ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for stuffing newspapers includes a pair of stuffer assemblies and a single conveyor which transports an overlapping stream of newspapers from both stuffer assemblies to a receiving station. During operation of the stuffer assemblies, a series of assembled newspapers is delivered from a first stuffer assembly to the conveyor in an overlapping relationship. To enable the newspapers from the second stuffer assembly to be interspersed with the newspapers from the first stuffer assembly, the newspapers from the first stuffer assembly are spaced apart by a speed-up or accelerating assembly. A newspaper from the second stuffer assembly is then deposited between successive newspapers from the first stuffer assembly to form a single stream of unlapped newspapers. The unlapped stream of newspapers is formed into an overlapped stream by a shingling mechanism so that a single lapped stream of newspapers is transported by the conveyor to a receiving station.

United States Patent 1191 Bryson et al. Apr. 1, 1975 1 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3,315,783 4/1967 Nadhemy.. 198/32 STUFFING NEWSPAPERS 0 FORMING 3.615.001 10/1971 Temple 198/34 X Mamacl Ct Bl. X

ASSEMBLAGES Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [75] inventors: Robert A. Bryson; Douglas T. Assistan/ Examiner-A. Heinz Steckel; James R. Moser, all of Easton, Pa.; Robert M. Silva, 57 ABSTRACT An improved apparatus for stuffing newspapers in- [731 Assignee: Harris-lntertype, Cl vel nd, Ohi cludes a pair of stutter assemblies and a single conveyor which transports an overlapping stream of news- [221 papers from both stuffer assemblies to a receiving sta- [21] Appl. No.: 287,810 tion. During operation of the stuffer assemblies, a series of assembled newspapers is delivered from a first stufler assembly to the conveyor in an overlapping rea" lationship. To enable the newspapers from the second 58] Fk'ld "no/5448. stuffer assembly to be interspersed w1th the newspa- 27 198 93 D 93 pers from the first stuffer assembly, the newspapers M from the first stufl'er assembly are spaced apart by a speed-up or accelerating assembly. A newspaper from I 5 6] Rekrenm cued the second stuffer assembly is then deposited between successive newspapers from the first stufter assembly UNITED STATES PATENTS to form a single stream of unlapped newspapers. The 1.833.311 1 1 1/1931 Winkler ct a1 270/57 unlapped stream of newspapers is formed into an 2.621.040 12/1952 Rinehart 270/58 overlapped stream by a shingling mechanism so that a 2.634971 SC hWCiZCI' single lapped stream of newspapers is transported g 'g x the conveyor to a receiving station.

3.213.691 9/1966 Grincr 198/35 x 1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures METHOD AND st'nARA usjrowsruFt-avc uswsvspsasonrottmmc "stMiuiisaEsr;

MATERIAL 7 BACKGROUND or w nt/ as s; This invention relates generally to a method and apstation, for the first stafferand is then-separated at a destationf for thesec lond staffer to enable-the'seeondf-series"of'newspapers-to be interspersed with the first seriesbf newspapers to form an unlapped-stream paratas for assembling sheet materiali such as newspw' f pers. and more specifically to-antethod and apparatus for conveying sheet'material assemblages fronta plurality of staffer assemblies-toareceivingstation. 1

A known -newpaper staffing meehanismineludes a plurality of staffers each of which isjadapted to asscnvbie a complete newspaper. During normal operation of the stuffing mechanism. .theassembled newspapers from the two staffers aredepositcdlon twoseparate.

conveyors which transport the-newspapersto two difof 'newspapers.-

Anotherohject of-this invention is to provide a new and" improved apparatas for assembling sheet material which in'cIades a pluralityof ntovable apwardly open a ing' pocke ts. -first;. and second groups of bottom-feed shoppers which sequentially feedsheetfmaterial .to the pockets. a conveyor for transporting a single stream of items toa receiving station. a means for delivering from ferent receiving locations. Anewspaper stuffing mcchanism having this construction is disclosed in US. pat. application Ser. No. 227.184. filedFeb. I7. I972. by Robert Andrew Bryson and James C. was and entitled Combined Newspaper Press and Staffer and Method of Forming Newspapers Therewith. Although the newspaper staffer mechanism disclosed in the Bryson ct ai. application is believed to represent a substantial improvement over prior art mechanisms having only a single staffer assembly. the operating costs associated with the staffer mechanism of the liryson et al application are contributed to by the provision of a pair of conveyors which transport two streams of assembled ncwspa pers to two, separate receiving stations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the conveying of newspapers or sheet material assemblages from a plurality of staffer assemblies to a receiving location with a single conveyor. A series of complete newspapers front a first one of the staffer assemblies is deposited on the conveyor in anoverlapped or shingled stream. When they reach a delivery station for a second staffer assembly. the newspapers from the second stufferasa plurality of staffers and transporting the-assembled I at least some fbf the pockets to the conveyor a first scries of itemswhieh are made up of sheet materials fed bythe first group ofho'ppers. and a means for dclivering from at least somefof the pockets to the conveyor a scco'nd scriesof items made up of sheet materials fed from the second group of hoppers and for interspersing the second series of items with thefirst series of items to form a'single stream of items. a, i

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of assembling newspapers with newspapers to a receiving station with a single conveyor and wherein the method includes the steps of operatingthe staffers to assemble first and second series of newspapers, delivering the first series ofnewspapers to the conveyor. and interspersing the first and second sembly is interspersed between the newspapers from I the first staffer assembly. The resulting unlapped stream of newspapers from both of the staffer assem blies is then overlapped by a shingling mechanism to lttl'llltl single shingled stream of newspapers which is staffers for assembling newspapers which are conveyed to a receiving station by a single eonveyorQwherein a conveyor from a first one of the staffers and wherein a second series of completed newspapers is delivered front a second staffer to the eonveyor and interspersed with the first series of newspapers to form a single stream of newspapers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus as set forth in the next preceding object wherein the first series of newspapers is deposited on the conveyor in a lapped stream at a delivery series of newspapers to form a single stream of newspapers on the conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention willbccomemore apparent upon a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is aschematie illustration of a newspaper stuffing mechanism having a plurality of staffer assemblies for assembling newspapers:

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view. taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. I. illustrating the rela tionship between a bottom-feed hopper. a pocket for receiving sections of the newpaper from the hopper.

and a single conveyor assembly for transporting the newpapcrs to a receiving station; a

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the conveyor as;-

sembly of FIG. 2: a a

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration depicting the depositing of newspapers on the conveyor assembly at a delivery-station for oneof the stufi'erassemblies:

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of an accelerating or aspced-up mechanism for separating newspapers from one staffer assembly to enable newspapers first series of completed newspapers is delivered to the from another staffer assembly to be interspersed the rewith to form a single stream of unlapped newspapers;

FIG. 6 is afragmentary sectional view of a shingling mechanism forforming the unlapped stream of newspapers from the two staffer assemblies into a single stream of overlapping newspapers: and

FIG. 7 is a highly schematized illustration, depicting how the newpapcrs from onestuffer assembly are interspersed with thenewspapers from the other staffer as sembly.

ONE SPECIFIC PREFERRED EMBODIMENT or THE INVENTION a A newspaper stuffing or sheet material assembling t mechanisnt I constructed in accordance with the present invention includes first and second staffer assemblies or sectors I2 and 14 which are arranged in a circle (FIG. 1). Newspapers completed by thestuffer assembly I2 are deposited onto a conveyor assembly 16 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The newspapers completed by the staffer assembly I4 are interspersed on the conveyor assembly I6 with the newspapers from the staffer as sembly I2 (FIG. 5). The conveyor assembly I6 then transports the newspapers from both of the staffer assemblies I2 and I4 to a suitable receiving station.

Each of the staffer assmblies I2 and I4 includes a first bottom-feed hopper I8 (FIG. I) which is supplied with newspaper jackets from a printing press by suitable conveyor assemblies and 22. The bottom-feed hoppers I8 transfer the newspaper jackets to generally V-shaped receiving pockets 26 which-are arranged in a circular array on a central rotor 28 (Fig. 2) of known construction. The rotor 28 carries an endless stream of the carrier pockets 26 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. I) around a circular path beneath a plurality of bottom-feed hoppers 32 in each of the staffer assemblies 12 and I4. The bottom-feed hoppers 32 are manually loaded and feed inner sections of a newspaper into each of the pockets 26 in turn as the pockets ae moved in sequence past the bottom-feed hoppers.

Each of the pockets 26 is of known construction and includes a generally vertical fixed wall 38 and an inclined movablewall 40 (see FIG. 4). The walls 38 and 40 are connected for relative pivoting movement about a horizontally radially extending axis adjacent to their I sembly I2 are transferred from the pockets 26 tothe.

lower extremities. Except when acompleted n'ewspa per is to be deposited. the walls 38 and 40 define an up wardly opening generally V-shapcd opening. a

As each of the pockets 26 is moved past one of the two bottom-feed hoppers ill by the rotor 28. a newspaper jacket is deposited in the pocket. A vacuum cup (not shown) connected with a source of vacuum by a conduit 42 (see FIG. 2).and mounted on the fixed pocket wall 38. holds one-halfof the V-folded jacket against the upright fixed wall while the other wall of the p jacket falls against the inclined wall of the pocket.

The jacket is thus unfolded to enable it to receive suecessive inner sections ofa newspaper which are fed into the jacket as it passes each of the hoppers 32 of one of the staffer assemblies. The construction of the carrier pockets 26 and the hoppers l8 and 32 is the same as is disclosed in US. Pats. Nos. 2,46l .573 and 2.634.97l

which are incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

The staffer mechanism I0 includes a segmented toroidal shell 44 (FIGS. land 2) which is supported above the floor by a plurality of legs 46 (FIG. 2) connected to a toroidal platform 48. The rotor 28 is con- I structed of a plurality of segments and has a toroidal shape which is supported for rotation by a circular The gear box 66 is connected with a'suitablc electric .drive motor. s g t The general interrelationship between the rotor28,

pockets 26.and hoppers I8 and 32 is as, described in U.S.Pat. No.-3.663.008 to Petersonet al. However, it s should beandcrstood that the:stuffing-mechunism I0 includes a pair of semi-circular staffer assemblies and I4 which are arranged in-thelmanner disclosed in the aforementioned Bryson ct al. application Ser. No.

227.l 84. filed Feb. I7. I972; As is disclosed in that up- I plication. each of the staffer assemblies 12 and I4 is adapted to assemble complete newspapers.

in accordance with a feature of the present invention, the completed newspapers from the two staffer assemblies I2 and I4 are transported to a receiving station, such as a stacker 70 (FIG. 3),.bythe' single conveyor assembly I6. The newspapers from the first staffer assembly. I2 are deposited on the conveyor I6 in a shins glcd or overlapped stream at a first delivery station 78 (FIG. 4). Complete newspapers from the second staffer.

assembly I4 are interspersed with the newspapers from the first staffer assembly I2 at a second delivery station 80 (FIGS. 3 and 5). A shingledor overlapped stream of intcrspersedpapers from the two staffer assemblies I2 and I4 is then transported to the stacker 70 by a final or delivery section 84 of the conveyor 16.

The complete newspapers from the first staffer asconveyor I6 at the delivery station 78 in the manner illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. Thus after the pockets 26 have moved sequentially from the jacket feed hopper I8 past the inner section feed hoppers 32 to the delivery station 78, the pockets are opened in turn to deposit completed newspapers 88 on an upper run of the conveyor I6. Thepockets 26 are constructed in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 2.634.971 and are opened on engagement of a rock arm 92 (see FIG. 2) a with a suitable cam (not shown) located adjacent to the delivery station 78. As each of the pockets 26 moves sequentially past thedellvery station 78. the opened pockets are closed and a jacket of another newspaper is inserted by the jacket feed hopper I8 of the second staffer assembly I4 into each of the .closed pockets in turn. The pockets 26 then move in succession past each of the hoppers 32 which deposit newspaper inner sections in the pockets to assemble complete newspapers as the pockets move through the stufferassembly I4.

The newspapers 88 completed by the staffer assembly I2 are deposited at the deliverystation 78 in a 0m.

lapped or shingled stream 96 (see FIG. 4) on the conveyor I6. The shingled stream 96 of completed newspapers 88 is transported in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 3) from the delivery station 78 by an arcaate belt type conveyor section I00 of the. conveyor assembly I6.The conveyor section I00 extends beneath the pockets 26 and is driven by a motor I04 through a drive train indicated schematically at track 52 which engages a plurality of rotatable sappora- I06 in FIG.'3. A known transfer section I08 transports the stream 96 of newspapers from the arcuate section I00 to a second arcuate section I10 of the conveyor assembly I6. The conveyor sectionI l0 transports the I shingled stream 96 of completed newspapers from the staffer assembly I2 to the delivery station (FIG. 5)

for the staffer assembly I4.

At the delivery station 80. completed newspapers II4 from the staffer assembly I4 are interspersed with the completed newspapers 88 from the staffer assembly i2 (sec i-Ki. 5). To facilitate intermixing oi the coma pieted newspapers "4 from the staffer assembly 14 with the shingied stream 96 of newspapers from the stuller assembly [2. a separator assembly 1 18 at the delivery station separates the overlapped newspapcrs 88. The newspapers 88 are then spaced apart by dis-1. tance which is greater than "the width of newspaper The ieadin'g'lor foidedcnd portion 128 ofeachol the newspapers {U4 is positioned relative to successive spaced apart newspapers 88 by a front register" pin or lid. that is by a distance which is greater than the dis tance between a folded leading end'portion or the A newspaper lid and an open trailingcnd portion I22 of the newspaper lid.

Once the completed newspapers 88lrom the staffer.

assembly i2 have been separated. the newspapers I14" from the staffer assembly 14 are deposited intermedlate the spaced apart newspapers 88 from the stellar as-'.

sembly l2 to form an. uniappcd stream oi completed newspapers from both stuller assemblies. Thisjinlapped stream of newspapers is then overlapped bya shingiing assembly I26 (see FIG. blivhlehlsLlocatcd at the delivery station 80 immediately downstream'irom the separator assembly I I8. An overlapped or 'shinglcd stream of newspapers is transported from the shinglin'g assembly l26-to the stacker 70 by the conveyor section 34 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). f

The separator assembly H8 at the delivcrystation 80 includes a speed-up or accelerator roller which enregistration'pin 1. 9 is moved in a timed relationshiplwith the'registration linger) by a timing chain '1 62, The -tinted relationship between the front register pins 144' and l60.issuch1that'the leading end 12o til' llta newspaper I l 4lis'deposited immcdiatciy beand newspapers lid from thje staiicr assembly 1'4. This unlapped streamjistranspo'rted by a conveyor belt' 166 to theshingllng astcmblyl26. Although only asingle 5 registrationiinget; has been shown in FIG. 5 in CO! nectlenjlwith thc tinting chain 1i52.it is contemplated thata plurality oi; registration-lingers could be connectedwith the timing chain. a

no shinglin'g ut nsi usage. 6) forms are ua- 20 lappc'd'streant of newspapers 88 and lid iatoa shinglcd oroverlapped stream ol'newspapers'Accordingiy.

the shingiing assembly 126 includes an upper conveyor assembly l68 ,which moves each of the newspapers 88 i gages the folded leading end portion I32 of each oi the,

newspapers 88 in turn at a nip'l36 between the 'roller I30 and a high speed drive belt 140. when the leading end portion I32 of the newspaper 88 enters the nip 136. the newspaper 88 is accelerated to a speed which a is more than twice as great as the speed'ttt which the newspapers are transported by the section iii) of the conveyor assembly 74. This results in the newspaper 88 being moved out of a lapped relationship with the nest succeeding newspaper 88 under thcinlluence ottlie speed-up roller I30 and high speed conveyor belt 140.

To insure that the propcr spacing is provided be tween the newspaper 88. the leading end portio'n'l32 of each newspaper is moved into engagement with a front register pin or linger 144 as the newspaper is acof the newspapers is acceleratcdrciative to the im-,

mediatcly succeeding newspaper to form a stream of p spaccdapart newspapers 88. The delivery assembly 'eelerated under the combined influence of the speed- 8 nip l36.-the leading end portion 132 of the newspaper.

ntoves into engagement with register pin i. it should be noted that although only a single front register pin 144 has been illustrated in'FlG. 5. it is contemplated that a pluraiityof front register pins could be provided on the tinting chain I46.

A delivery assembly I52 at the delivery station 80 desembiy 14 between the trailing and leading end portions of successive completed newspapers 88 from the staffer assembly 12 to fonn a single unlapped stream of newspapers. The delivery assembly I52 includes a conveyor belt I56 which receives completed newspapers I 14 which are delivered thereto from each ofthc'pocitets 26 in turn as the poeketsmove in succession past the delivery station 80. The newpapcrs lid are conducted in an uniapped stream to the delivery belt I56 by a suitable guide arrangement when the 'pockcts 26 are opened in the manner disclosed in Pat. No.

2.634.97l at the delivery station 80, p

and lljdin turn on to a lower conveyor assembly 172;

25 The lower conveyorasscmbly 172 is driven at a slower spcedtha'n is the upp'creonveyor assembly 168 so that the newspapers 88 and ii are deposited on the lower conveyor assembly 172 in anoverlapping or shingied relationshipfiihe single stream .of ovcriappingnewspa- 30 pers is then transferred to thermal or delivery conveyor section 84 which'transports them to the stacker 70. y

A schematic illustration of the movement of the ncwspapers'88 and 1 I on the conveyor assembly 16 is shownin FIG. 7. The overlapped or shingled stream 96 of completed newspapers 88 from the staii'er assembly ills transported .by the conveyor assembly 16 to p the delivery station 80; At the deiiverystation 80. each 152 then deposits a newspaper 114 from the shifter assembly into the space between successive new papers 88; The uniappcd stream of newspapers 88 and 4 it are then depositedin an overlapped or shinglcd stream on the conveyor 172 by the shingling assembly 126. in this manner. the output from two stulier asseme blics l2 and i4 is combined into a single overlapped stream of ncwspapers'which is transportcdby the convcyor assembly 16 to the staclter 70. By combining the outputof the two staffer assemblies 12 and 14 into a single stream. only one delivery conveyor assembly 16 is rcqairedi'or thetwo stuiter assemblies l2 and 14.

Although the conveyor assembly lashes been shown herein lnconnnection with a pair of rotary type staffer posits aeompieted newpapcr "4 from the staffer as assemblies "l2 and 14. it is contemplated that the conveyor assembly could'bc uscdwith-llncar type staffer assemblies. in addition. it is contemplated that an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention could be utilized with devices for making sheet material assemblages other than newspapers.

Having described a specific prci'errcdcmbodimcnt of the invention. the following is claimed: I. An apparatus comprising a plurality of movable upwardly opening pocket means.

a first group of bottom-feed hopper means disposed 3 adjacent to each other along a first path length for sequentially feeding shcet'matcrial to at least some hindtheftrailing'ead oi anewspapcr 88 by thefdeiivcry it) assembiyFlSZgThis results-inn singlelaniapped stream a fortncdliy newspapelrs 88'lrom the stufferlasscmbly 12 Y 7 of said pocket means. each of said hopper means of said first group of hopper means having a bottom portion. a second group oi bottom-feed hopper'meansdisposed adjacent to each other along a second path length which is different thansaid firstpath length for sequentially feeding sheet material to at least' some of said pocket means. each of said'hoppcr means of said second group of hopper means having a bottom portion,

drive means for moving at least some of said pocket meansalong'saidfirst path length past the bottom portion of each hopper means of said first group of hopper means to assemble in each of these pocket means in turn an item formed of sheet-material received from said first group of hoppermeansand for moving at least some of said pocket means along said second path length past the bottom por-.

tion of each hopper means of said second group of hopper means to assemble in each of these pockets means in turn an item formed of sheet material receivcd from said second group of hopper means. conveyor means for transporting items formed of sheet material received from said first group of hopper means and items formed of sheet material received from said second group of hopper means i of sheets of material fed from said second group of hopper means and for interspersing said second series of itemswith said first series of items tofor'm a single stream of items. p 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim I iurther including mounting means for supporting said conveyorr means for movement along a path neath said pocket means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a first series of items includes means for depositing said first series of items on said conveyor means with a leading end portionof each itent in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding item to form a shingled stream of items.

which extends be- 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for delivering and interspersing said-second series of items includes means for spacing apart a leading and trailing end portions of successive items of said first series of items and for depositing each item of said second series of items between successive items of said first series of items to form said first and second series of items into an unlapped stream of items.

5. An aparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including means for positioning a leading end portion of one item in said unlapped stream of items in a lappedrelationship with a trailing end portion of a nest preceding item to form a shingled stream of items. a

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including means for positioning a leading end portion of each item of said first series of items in an overlapping rela- 8 tionship with a trailing end portion of an item of said second series of itemsan'd for positioning a leading end portion of each item of said second series of items in an overlapping relationshipwith a trailing end portion of an item of said first series of itemsto thereby form a shingled stream of items. i p 7. An apparatusf omprising a plurality 'of bottomfeed hopper meansldisposed in a circular array which is divided intoaplurality of sectors each of which is adapted to assemble completenewspapcrs and includes a-first' hopper means for feeding a jacket section of a newspaper and other hopper means for feeding inner f sections of a newspaper.

a plurality of top-opening pockets disposed in a ciruclar array beneath said circular array of hopper means.

i i drive means for moving each of said pockets sequentiallypast each of said hoppcr means.

said first hopper meansof each of said sectors being operable to feed a jacketsection into each of said pockets in turn. is p a each of said other hopper means of each of said scctors being sequentially operably to feed inner sec tions into the jacket section in each of said pockets until a complete newspaper is assembled in each of said pockets in turn. a t

a plurality of delivery stations each of which is associated with one of said sectors.

conveyor means extending beneath said pocket means for transporting completed newspapers .from said delivery stations to a receiving station in a single overlapping stream. and a plurality of delivery means each of which is located atone of saiddelivery stations for delivering a scries of newspapers completed at the associated sec tor from said pockets tosaid conveyor means.

at least one of said delivery means including means.

for interspersing and overlapping in a single stream the seriesof newspapers completed at the associat another sector. a r p 8. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one delivery means includes means for sequentially accelerating each of the newspapers completed at said othersectorand for depositing the newspapers completed at said associated sector intermediate newspapers completed at said other sector.

9. An apparatus as setforth in claim 8 whercinsaid apparatus further includes conveyor means for transfirst series of newspapers on said conveyer means with a leading end portion ofeach newspaper in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding newspaper to form a single shingled stream of newspapers. and

means for delivering a second series of assembled newspapers from said second staffer means to said .....cc mam... W m... "M... 1 h Wm, W W... N.

ated sector with a series of newspapers completed porting freshly-printed jacket sections to said first hopof newspapers includcsmeans for depositing said conveyor means and for intcrspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to fomt the newspapers from said first and second staffer means into a single stream of newspapers which is transported to the receiving station by said conveyor means. said means for delivering a and interspersing said second series of newspapers includes first means for changing the single shinglcd stream of newspapers assembled by said first staffer means into a single stream of spaced apart newspapers by spacing apart the lapped leading and trailing end portions of the newspapers of said first-series of newspapers and second means for depositing at least a portion of each newspaper of the second series of newspapers between leading and trailing newspapers of said first series of newspapers to fomi said first and second series of newspapers into a single stream of newspapers disposed on said conveyor means.

l. A method of assembling newspapers with a plarulityof staffer means and transporting the assembled newspapers toa delivery station in a single stream with a conveyor assembly. said method comprising the steps of operating a first staffer means to assemble a first series of newspapers. operatinga second staffer means to assemble a second series of newspapers.

delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly. said step of delivering said first sericsof newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of depositing said first series of newspapers on said conveyor assembly with a leading end portion of each newspaper in a lapped relationship with atrailing end portion of the next preceding newspaper. and.

delivering said second series of newspapers to the assembling newspapers.

same conveyor assembly as the first stream of newspapers. said step of delivering said second sc ries of newspapers to the conveyor assembly ineluding the step of int'erspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to form a single stream of newspapers on the conveyor assembly. saidstep of interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers including the steps of spacing apart leading and trailing cnd portions of the newspapers of said first series of newspapers. and depositing at least a portion of each newspaper of said second series of newspapers between leadingand trailing newspapersjof said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspapers into a single stream. t

2. An apparauts comprising first staffer means for 7 second staffer means for assembling newspapers. conveyor means for transporting newspapers assembled by said first and second staffer means in a single stream to a receiving station.

means for delivering a first series of assembled newspapers from said first stail'er means to said conveyor means.

said means for delivering a first series of newspapers including means for depositing said-first series of newspapers on said conveyormcans with a leading end portion of each newspaper in a lapped relation ship with a trailing end portion ofthe next preceding newspaper-to form a shingled stream of newspapers. and r means for delivering a second series of assembled newspapers from said second staffer means to said ing apart leading and trailingendportions of newspapers of said first series of newspapers by a dis tance which is at least the width of a newspaper and a for depositing each newspaper of the second series of newspapers between leadingand trailing news-i papers of said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspaperslinto a single anlappcd stream of newspapers.

13. An apparaats as set forth in claim i2farther ineluding means for positioning a leading end portion of one newspaper in said unlapped stream-of newspapers in a lapped relationship witha trailing end portion of a a next preceding newspaper toform a shingled stream of newspapers. i 7

14. A method of assembling newspapers with a pluraiity of "stuffermeans and transporting the assembled newspapers to a delivery station in a single stream with a conveyor assembly. said method comprising the steps of operating a first stuffer means to assembly afirst series of newspapers.

operating a second stufferlmeans to assemble a second series of newspapers, i

delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly. said step of delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of depositing the first series of newspapers on the conveyor assembly in a single stream with the leading end portion of each ncwspaper into lapped relationship with thetrailing end portion of the next precedingnewspapers. and

delivering said second series of newspapers to the same conveyor assembly as the first series of newspapers. said step of delivering said second series of newspapers to theconveyor assemblyinclading the step of interspersing said second series of newspa pers with said first series of newspapers to form: a a single stream of newspapers on the conveyor as sembly.

said step of portions of the. newspapers of said first series of newspapers by a distance which is at least the width of a newspaper. and depositing each newspaper of a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of a next preceding newspaper to form a shingledstream of newspapers. h a i 3 i intcrspersing said second series of newsit i papers with said first series of newspapers including i the steps of spacing apart leading and trailing end UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIHQATE F CORRECTIQN Patent No. 3, 74, +9 Dated April 1, 1975 Inventor(s) Robert A. BI'YSOYl et al. Page 1 of 6 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The sheets of drawings containing Figures 1-7 as shown on the attached sheets should be added.

igncd and said this eighth Day of June 1976 {SEAL} Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParems and Trademarks Page 5 of 6 Patent No. 

1. An apparatus comprising a plurality of movable upwardly opening pocket means, a first group of bottom-feed hopper means disposed adjacent to each other along a first path length for sequentially feeding sheet material to at least some of said pocket means, each of said hopper means of said first group of hopper means having a bottom portion, a second group of bottom-feed hopper means disposed adjacent to each other along a second path length which is different than said first path length for sequentially feeding sheet material to at least some of said pocket means, each of said hopper means of said second group of hopper means having a bottom portion, drive means for moving at least some of said pocket means along said first path length past the bottom portion of each hopper means of said first group of hopper means to assemble in each of these pocket means in turn an item formed of sheet material received from said first group of hopper means and for moving at least some of said pocket means along said second path length past the bottom portion of each hopper means of said second group of hopper means to assemble in each of these pockets means in turn an item formed of sheet material received from said second group of hopper means, conveyor means for transporting items formed of sheet material received from said first group of hopper means and items formed of sheet material received from said second group of hopper means in a single stream of items to a receiving station, means disposed at a first delivery station for delivering from at least some of said pocket means to said conveyor means a first series of items made up of sheet material fed from said first group of hopper means, and means disposed at a second delivery station spaced apart from said first delivery station for delivering from at least some of said pocket means to said conveyor means a second series of items made up of sheets of material fed from said second group of hopper means and for interspersing said second series of items with said first series of items to form a single stream of items.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including mounting means for supporting said conveyor means for movement along a path which extends beneath said pocket means.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a first series of items includes means for depositing said first series of items on said conveyor means with a leading end portion of each item in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding item to form a shingled stream of items.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for delivering and interspersing said second series of items includes means for spacing apart a leading and trailing end portions of successive items of said first series of items and for depositing each item of said second series of items between successive items of said first series of items to form said first and second series of items into an unlapped stream of items.
 5. An aparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including means for positioning a leading end portion of one item in said unlapped stream of items in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of a next preceding item to form a shingled stream of items.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including means for positioning a leading end portion of each item of said first series of items in an overlapping relationship with a trailing end portion of an item of said second series of items and for positioning a leading end portion of each item of said second series of items in an overlapping relationship with a trailing end portion of an item of said first series of items to thereby form a shingled stream of items.
 7. An apparatus comprising a plurality of bottom-feed hopper means disposed in a circular array which is divided into a plurality of sectors each of which is adapted to assemble complete newspapers and includes a first hopper means for feeding a jacket section of a newspaper and other hopper means for feeding inner sections of a newspaper, a plurality of top-opening pockets disposed in a ciruclar array beneath said circular array of hopper means, drive means for moving each of said pockets sequentially past each of said hopper means, said first hopper means of each of said sectors being operable to feed a jacket section into each of said pockets in turn, each of said other hopper means of each of said sectors being sequentially operably to feed inner sections into the jacket section in each of said pockets until a complete newspaper is assembled in each of said pockets in turn, a plurality of delivery stations each of which is associated with one of said sectors, conveyor means extending beneath said pocket means for transporting completed newspapers from said delivery stations to a receiving station in a single overlapping stream, and a plurality of delivery means each of which is located at one of said delivery stations for delivering a series of newspapers completed at the associated sector from said pockets to said conveyor means, at least one of said delivery means including means for interspersing and overlapping in a single stream the series of newspapers completed at the associated sector with a series of newspapers completed at another sector.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one delivery means includes means for sequentially accelerating each of the newspapers completed at said other sector and for depositing the newspapers completed at said associated sector intermediate newspapers completed at said other sector.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said apparatus further includes conveyor means for transporting freshly-printed jacket sections to said first hopper means of each of said sectors.
 10. An apparatus comprising first stuffer means for assembling mewspapers, second stuffer means for assembling newspapers, conveyor means for transporting assembled newspapers to a receiving station, means for delivering a first series of assembled newspapers from said first stuffer means to said conveyor means, said means for delivering a first series of newspapers includes means for depositing said first series of newspapers on said conveyer means with a leading end portion of each newspaper in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding newspaper to form a single shingled stream of newspapers, and means for delivering a second series of assembled newspapers from said second stuffer means to said conveyor means and for interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to form the newspapers from said first and second stuffer means into a single stream of newspapers which is transported to the receiving station by said conveyor means, said means for delivering and interspersing said second series of newspapers includes first means for changing the single shingled stream of newspapers assembled by said first stuffer means into a single stream of spaced apart newspapers by spacing apart the lapped leading and trailing end portions of the newspapers of said first series of newspapers and second means for depositing at least a portion of each newspaper of the second series of newspapers between leading and trailing newspapers of said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspapers into a single stream of newspapers disposed on said conveyor means.
 11. A method of assembling newspapers with a plurality of stuffer means and transporting the assembled newspapers to a delivery station in a single stream with a conveyor assembly, said method comprising the steps of operating a first stuffer means to assemble a first series of newspapers, operating a second stuffer means to assemble a second series of newspapers, delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly, said step of delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of depositing said first series of newspapers on said conveyor assembly with a leading end portion of each newspaper in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding newspaper, and, delivering said second series of newspapers to the same conveyor assembly as the first stream of newspapers, said step of delivering said second series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to form a single stream of newspapers on the conveyor assembly, said step of interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers including the steps of spacing apart leading and trailing end portions of the newspapers of said first series of newspapers, and depositing at least a portion of each newspaper of said second series of newspapers between leading and trailing newspapers of said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspapers into a single stream.
 12. An apparauts comprising first stuffer means for assembling newspapers, second stuffer means for assembling newspapers, conveyor means for transporting newspapers assembled by said first and second stuffer means in a single stream to a receiving station, means for delivering a first series of assembled newspapers from said first stuffer means to said conveyor means, said means for delivering a first series of newspapers including means for depositing said first series of newspapers on said conveyor means with a leading end portion of each newspaper in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of the next preceding newspaper to form a shingled stream of newspapers, and means for delivering a second series of assembleD newspapers from said second stuffer means to said conveyor means and for interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to form the newspapers from said first and second stuffer means into the single stream of newspapers which is transported to the receiving station by said conveyor means, said means for delivering and interspersing said second series of newspapers including means for spacing apart leading and trailing end portions of newspapers of said first series of newspapers by a distance which is at least the width of a newspaper and for depositing each newspaper of the second series of newspapers between leading and trailing newspapers of said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspapers into a single unlapped stream of newspapers.
 13. An apparauts as set forth in claim 12 further including means for positioning a leading end portion of one newspaper in said unlapped stream of newspapers in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of a next preceding newspaper to form a shingled stream of newspapers.
 14. A method of assembling newspapers with a plurality of stuffer means and transporting the assembled newspapers to a delivery station in a single stream with a conveyor assembly, said method comprising the steps of operating a first stuffer means to assembly a first series of newspapers, operating a second stuffer means to assemble a second series of newspapers, delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly, said step of delivering said first series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of depositing the first series of newspapers on the conveyor assembly in a single stream with the leading end portion of each newspaper into lapped relationship with the trailing end portion of the next preceding newspapers, and delivering said second series of newspapers to the same conveyor assembly as the first series of newspapers, said step of delivering said second series of newspapers to the conveyor assembly including the step of interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers to form a single stream of newspapers on the conveyor assembly, said step of interspersing said second series of newspapers with said first series of newspapers including the steps of spacing apart leading and trailing end portions of the newspapers of said first series of newspapers by a distance which is at least the width of a newspaper, and depositing each newspaper of said second series of newspapers between leading and trailing newspapers of said first series of newspapers to form said first and second series of newspapers into an unlapped stream of newspapers.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further including the step of positioning a leading end portion of one newspaper in said unlapped stream of newspapers in a lapped relationship with a trailing end portion of a next preceding newspaper to form a shingled stream of newspapers. 